On Monday, United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the establishment of a new international task force, Operation Prosperity Guardian, aimed at safeguarding shipping in the Red Sea from Houthi attacks.
Emphasising the need for collective action to address the global challenge, Austin brought together multiple countries, including the United Kingdom, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, and Spain. Operation Prosperity Guardian is part of Combined Task Force 153, created in April 2022, and is dedicated to addressing security challenges in the southern Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, particularly in response to the rising incidents of militant attacks and weapons seizures.
Houthis launched a series of attacks targeting Israel and ships in the Red Sea in recent months, following Hamas’ attack on Israel on October 7. The news follows reports of another Houthi attack on the commercial vessel M/V Swan Atlantic in the southern Red Sea on Monday, prompting a response from the USS Carney. Additionally, a US warship recently intercepted 14 suspected attack drones over the Red Sea, while a Royal Navy destroyer downed another drone targeting commercial ships.
The decision to establish this expanded operation came after three commercial vessels were struck by missiles fired by Houthi forces in Yemen on December 3. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had previously mentioned ongoing talks with other countries about forming a maritime task force to ensure the safe passage of ships in the Red Sea, responding to the escalating security concerns in the region.
